McKeowns Valley Walk

Exploring the Jenolan River, this track makes for one of the more beautiful walks in the Jenolan area as it winds its way along the creek bed. High cliffs on either side form an amazing valley, and there are views of the caves as well as a great spot to break at the campsite.

Jenolan Caves House

Jenolan Caves House, built in 1898, is a heritage-listed building which houses dining, a variety of accommodation options, and other services for visitors to the caves. Jenolan has two licensed restaurants: Trails Bistro is open from breakfast onwards and closes early evening. Trails serves a range of light meals including sandwiches, salads and hot food. Chisholm’s Restaurant is open each morning for breakfast and each evening for dinner from 6.00pm. Essential items and beautiful souvenirs may be purchased from Things Jenolan, located on the ground floor of Caves House. Don’t forget to explore one of the many caves to explore in the area. For more information, call Jenolan Caves on 1300 76 33 11.

(0km) Caves House → Carlotta Arch Lookout

410 m

12 mins

74m

-21m

Moderate track

From the opposite side of the Jenolan Caves Road from Caves House[2], this walk follows the ‘Six Foot Track’ sign up the concrete steps[3]. The walk then follows the stone footpath up the side of the valley for about 80m to pass the ‘Southside Show Caves’ information sign[4] then just over 30m later to the ‘Grand Arch’ information sign (and view of the Arch)[5]. The walk continues fairly gently up the path for 100m (as it bends right) to find ‘Caves House’ information sign[6]. The path soon starts leading much more steeply up as it begins to Zig Zag up past a seat[7] and more views down to caves house[8] for 150m beside the limestone cliffs[9]. At the top of this climb the path leads over a small small rise then gently down to a fenced lookout beside ‘Carlotta Arch’[10][11].

(0.41km) Top of Carlotta Arch Steps → Bottom of Carlotta Arch Steps

30 m

1 mins

1m

0m

Moderate track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk goes down the stairs until coming to the entrance of the cave. On the way, this walk goes under the towering Carlotta’s Arch. The lookout has great views of the valley and Blue Lake. At the end of this side trip, retrace your steps back to the main walk then Turn right.

Carlotta Arch

Carlotta Arch is a large and spectacular cave remnant overlooking Blue Lake. It is believed that the arch was named in honour of a daughter of a surveyor – General P.F. Adams. Adams is credited with having taken some of the earliest photos at Jenolan.

Very easy

Continue straight: From the ‘Carlotta Arch’[12][13] lookout, this walk follows the gravel path[14] (past the top of the steps) gently uphill (initially keeping the arch to your right) a short distance to an intersection with the sign posted ‘Six Foot Track’ (on your right), where another sign points back to ‘Caves House’[15].Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk heads along the gravel footpath until coming to an intersection with a track signposted as the way to the ‘Devil’s Coachhouse’.

Hard track

Turn right: From the intersection, this walk heads off the gravel footpath and goes down the stairs, zigzagging down the hill. The walk then crosses a bridge over the Jenolan River and comes to intersection with a bush track, marked by a ‘Devil’s Coachhouse’ sign.

Easy track

Turn left : From the intersection, this walk heads alongside the Jenolan River (left of the track). The track crosses the river at several points using metal bridges. (Watch out for stinging nettles along this part of the track.) Continuing north along the gravel footpath, the walk slowly winds to reach an electric fence, then heads through the grass clearings signposted as the ‘Old Playing Field’. The walk comes to a group of buildings and an intersection with a management trail (which crosses the Jenolan River).

Maps for the McKeowns Valley Walk walk

You can download the PDF for this walk to print a map.These maps below cover the walk and the wider area around the walk, they are worth carrying for safety reasons.

Plan your trip to and from the walk here

Fire Danger

http://new.wildwalks.com/wildwalks_custom/includes/walk_fire_danger.php?walkid=nsw-jkcr-mvw
Each park may have its own fire ban, this rating is only valid for today and is based on information from the RFS Please check the RFS Website for more information.